President Diary: Ruto hosting King Charles, return to Coast
This week, the visit of Queen Camilla and King Charles III was the focal point of President William Ruto’s diary.
The two prominent British leaders were making their inaugural visit to the country at President Ruto’s invitation.
They arrived in the country on Monday evening and concluded their four-day official visit on Friday evening. Their arrival occurred on Tuesday.
During the President’s visits to the country, his diary was not carried out due to the presence of the King and Queen.
The President presided over the commencement of the KCPE and KPSEA examinations on Monday.
Ruto, who was present at Kikuyu Township Primary School, Kiambu, advised the students to strive for excellence in the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations.
The students were advised by the president to enter the examination rooms with confidence, as he delivered a message of encouragement.
“To all candidates who are doing this exam today, I wish you all the best and success in these exams. As you go into the exam room know that you are not alone so be confident, do your best,” Ruto said on Monday.
State House hosted an elaborate reception honoring King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Tuesday.
Queen Camilla and King Charles III were being formally received into the country.
The President and his guests visited the Uhuru Gardens National Monument and Museum in Nairobi after the State House reception.
Their Majesties were escorted down the Tunnel of Martyrs after viewing statues honoring the Kenyan independence fighters Dedan Kimathi and Mekatalili Wa Menza at the entrance to the museum.
In this location, Brigadier Opiyo, the former director of Uhuru Gardens, delivered a poignant narrative that detailed the lives of those honored in the tunnel. Among those honored were individuals who had been subjected to mistreatment and brutality during the colonial era.
“The visit enabled King Charles to deepen his understanding of the more painful parts of the UK and Kenya’s shared history,” read a statement from the British High Commission.
In the presence of members of the Kenyan Defence Forces and their families, the King and President Ruto deposited wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, which is dedicated to commemorating all those who have contributed to Kenya’s unity, peace, and liberty, during the tour.
Subsequently, the two visited the National Museum, which is slated to open shortly and is dedicated to recounting the proud history of Kenya through the perspectives of its citizens.
Following that, Ruto accompanied His Majesties to the location where the Kenyan flag was raised in the presence of the late Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, the father of the King.
In 1963, the flag was raised in observance of independence.
President Ruto hosted a State banquet later that evening to commemorate the visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
“Your majesty, in this country, we have kingpins in different regions, and for that reason, I want to say that the contest is suspended because the real king is in the country,” Ruto said during the banquet.
Prominent government figures, including opposition leader Raila Odinga, attended the banquet, which contained significant revelations.
Ruto commenced his five-day coastal exploration of the area on Wednesday.
Before departing for Kwale on Thursday, he commissioned the Mwakirunge road in the Rabai constituency in Kilifi.
Before overseeing the inauguration and inspection of the Shimoni fish port, he commissioned a mini-grid for electricity at Wasini Island in Lunga Lunga.
He began Thursday by reuniting with his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, following a week-long trip abroad.
The chief of state subsequently accompanied Queen Camilla and King Charles to the Mtongwe Naval Base.
Ruto commemorated a significant achievement later in the day when the Buxton Point Affordable Housing Phase One in Mombasa was finalized.
Additionally, the President transferred 584 units to their new proprietors.
Following that, Ruto officiated the groundbreaking ceremonies for the adjacent Mzizima estate and Phase 2 of the affordable housing development Buxton Point.
The inaugural cabinet meeting of the Head of State was conducted on Friday in State Hosue, Mombasa.
Ruto attended this meeting at State House, Mombasa for the first time since assuming the presidency a year ago.
The cabinet session in Mombasa signifies the fourth gathering of the Administration to take place outside of Nairobi.
Except CS for Tourism Alfred Mutua and PM Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, every cabinet secretary was present at the meeting.
To bid farewell to King Charles III and Queen Camilla, the President and First Lady gathered at Moi International Airport alongside the navy and other state officials.
Following his ‘errand’ at the airport, Ruto presided over the Kenya Revenue Authority 2023 Tax Payers Day.
The President inaugurated the Lamu East Technical and Vocational College on Saturday.
Ruto stated that the college will provide technical expertise to the youth so they can propel the nation’s agenda for transformation.
In addition to other prominent figures, he was accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Kipchumba Murkomen (Transport), Aden Duale (Defense), Ezekiel Machogu (Education), Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, Gachagua, MPs, and MCAs.
The chief of state is scheduled to attend an interdenominational Thanksgiving prayer in Mombasa on Sunday.
The culmination of his visit will involve the chief of state commissioning the last-mile electricity connectivity project in Ganze and conducting an inspection tour of the Baricho water supply project in Malindi.
President Diary: Ruto hosting King Charles, return to Coast
